Prabowo optimistic of Indonesia becoming world food barn

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto expressed his optimism that Indonesia is on track to become a "world food barn," as a steady increase in national agricultural production begins to open up export opportunities to various countries.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Meninting Dam in West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, on Friday, President Prabowo highlighted the country’s significant progress in the food sector, shifting away from a reliance on imports toward exporting food commodities.

"I am confident that we will become a world food barn. We went from importing, importing, importing, to now we have started exporting food to other countries," the president stated in a national broadcast.

Prabowo noted that Indonesia’s growing domestic production capacity has attracted the attention of several foreign nations seeking supplies of strategic agricultural commodities.

He revealed that multiple countries, including major regional economies, have formally requested Indonesia to supply agricultural inputs like urea fertilizer to meet their domestic demands.

"We are now being asked for assistance from countries, even Australia, asking us to sell urea to them. Brazil, the Philippines, and India (are asking) as well,” President Prabowo stated.

This development demonstrates Indonesia's expanding influence in the global food supply chain, resulting from strengthened domestic food security and enhanced agricultural productivity, he said.

Prabowo emphasized that the government will continue to prioritize agricultural acceleration programs to maintain food self-sufficiency while solidifying Indonesia's position as an international food supplier.

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"Indonesia is now demonstrating, without much fanfare, that Indonesia is a rising country and will continue to rise," the president added.

Recent data from the National Food Agency (Bapanas) indicated an upward trend in national rice production throughout the first half of 2026, which has bolstered the Government Rice Reserve (CBP) and maintained national food price stability.

Bapanas recorded that the total domestic absorption of unhusked rice from local farmers reached 3.3 million tons during the first half of 2026.

In the first quarter of 2026 alone, national rice production reached 9.63 million tons against a consumption demand of 7.76 million tons, resulting in a surplus of approximately 1.86 million tons.

Of that first-quarter surplus, state logistics agency Bulog absorbed unhusked rice equivalent to 1.46 million tons of rice, leaving around 400,800 tons available for private businesses to replenish commercial inventories.

From January to June 2026, total national rice production is estimated to reach 19.27 million tons, while consumption demand stands at roughly 15.48 million tons, yielding a net production surplus of 3.79 million tons.

Bapanas further noted that total national rice stocks, which include the strategic CBP, have currently reached an aggregate of approximately five million tons.

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Translator: Maria Cicilia Galuh Prayudhia, Yashinta Difa

Editor: Rahmad Nasution

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